Balloon bursting game apparatus

ABSTRACT

A game for bursting a toy balloon including a platform, for supporting a plurality of balloons, an upright standard centrally disposed on the platform, a plurality of receptacles adapted to receive playing pieces having a pointed lower element suspended above the platform in circumferential fashion about the upper end of the standard, and elastic supporting members securing the receptacles to the standard and being deformable to lower each receptacle against the toy balloon therebeneath in response to the weight of playing pieces in the receptacle.

United States Patent [151 3,685,825 Dorazio [451 Aug. 22, 1972 [54] BALLOON BURSTING GAME 3,460,831 8/1969 Glass et a1 ....273/1 R APPARATUS 3,488,050 1/1970 Stan et al ..273/1 R UX [72] Inventor: Michael Duran-OVemon, Conn. 3,608,903 9/1971 Cooper ..273/1 R X [73] Assignee: John D.'Del Ponti, Tolland, Conn. Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham a part interest Assistant ExaminerPaul E. Shapiro [22] Filed: April 1, 1971 Attorney-John D. Del Pont1 21 Appl. No.: 130,231 [57] ABSTRACT A game for bursting a toy balloon including a plat- 52 US. Cl. ..273/1 R, 273/138 R form, for supporting a p i y of balloons, an upright 51 Int. Cl. ..A63r 9/00 Standard centrally disposed on the Platfenn, a P [58] Field of Search ..273/1 R, 1 E, 1 M, 138 R; ty of receptacles adapted to receive P y g Pieees 46/194 88 having a pointed lower element suspended above the platform in circumferential fashion about the upper [56] References Cited end of the standard, and elastic supporting members 4 securing the receptacles to the standard and being UNITED STATES PATENTS deformable to lower each receptacle against the toy balloon therebeneath in response to the weight of 2,925,078 2/1960 Ryan, Jr ..46/88 X 3,357,128 12/1967 Geiser ..46/194 playmg pleces mthe receptacle 3,460,830 8/ 1969 Barlow et a] ..46/88 X 3 Claim, 2 Drawing Figures 1 BALLOON BURSTING GAME APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to games and is particularly directed to game apparatus for bursting a balloon, or the like, to produce an explosive report.

The invention contemplates a game apparatus for a plurality of players wherein a chance device is utilized in combination with individual players balloon bursting means. According to one aspect of the invention, the balloon bursting means are in the form of weight responsive canisters which are elastically suspended over inflated balloons and which receive or yield a number of weighted playingpieces as determined by i the chance device in order to vary in suspense fashion, the proximity of the bursting means to the balloons.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.

An understanding of the invention will become more apparent from the following description of the selected embodiment illustrated in the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the game apparatus; and

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a chance device suitable for use with the game apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the illustrated embodiment, the game apparatus, in general, comprises a flat and horizontal platform member 10, a generally central upright standard 12, a plurality of arms 14, suspenders 16, and canisters l8 and a chance device 20. In general, the game apparatus is utilized in a suspenseful game involving the bursting of an inflated balloon 22.

More particularly, the standard 12 is affixed to the base in a vertical configuration with the arms 14 projecting radially outwardly from the upper portion thereof. Each arm is rigid and supports a canister 18 by means of a deformable suspender 16, such as an elastic rope or band. The canister 18 is cup-shaped and therefor adapted to receive a plurality of weighted playing pieces 24 which may be marbles, steel balls or the like. At the lower end of the canister is a pin 26 which is downwardly pointed at the balloon secured immediately below to the base by means of a retaining strap 28 such as a rubber band.

Generally, it is intended that the game apparatus be used by a number of players who, in turn, place or remove one or more of the weighted pieces 24 from their receptacle 18, as directed by the chance device 20. As the number of playing pieces in a canister increases, the increase in weight will cause the suspender 16 to elongate and lower the pin 26 to the balloon and finally cause bursting of the same. Each player is assigned a canister nearest him and the player who first bursts his balloon is the loser of the game; the last player with his balloon intact being the winner. The rules of the game and the chance device for directing the play of the ,game may include instructions for a player to add or remove pieces from his own or from an opponents suspended canister 18.

One form of the game might ,utilize elastic or flexile arms 14 which would bend under loading, instead of $15 326 asn iifige fi a??? l$a$6i3$$$$fi inelastic suspenders. Further, the chance device could be a deck of playing cards having instructions with regard to the play of the game, instead of the spinner device 20. Still further, the retaining means 28 could be a retaining wall or ridge to prevent lateral movement of the balloon instead of a strap. Other and various modifications to the particular apparatus shown and described will be apparent to those skilled in .the art without departing from the true scope of the invention as defined in the claims appended.

I claim: I

1. Game apparatus for bursting a toy balloon comprising: I

a generally planar horizontal platform member;

an upstanding supporting standard fixed to a central portion of said platform'member in vertically extending relation thereto;

a plurality of playing pieces;

a plurality of receptacles disposed radially from said standard in spaced relation therearound above said I platform member said receptacles being adapted to receive a plurality of said playing pieces and having a pointed element on their lower end;

means on said platform for securing a toy balloon in inflated condition thereto under each said receptacle, and

supporting means between each said receptacle and said standard for securing-said receptacles to said standard, said supporting means including an elastic member deformable to lower said receptacle against said toy balloon in response to the weight of playing pieces in said receptacle whereby said pointed element will puncture said balloon and produce an explosive report.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said supporting I 

1. Game apparatus for bursting a toy balloon comprising: a generally planar horizontal platform member; an upstanding supporting standard fixed to a central portion of said platform member in vertically extending relation thereto; a plurality of playing pieces; a plurality of receptacles disposed radially from said standard in spaced relation therearound above said platform member said receptacles being adapted to receive a plurality of said playing pieces and having a pointed element on their lower end; means on said platform for securing a toy balloon in inflated condition thereto under each said receptacle, and supporting means between each said receptacle and said standard for securing said receptacles to said standard, said supporting means including an elastic member deformable to lower said receptacle against said toy balloon in response to the weight of playing pieces in said receptacle whereby said pointed element will puncture said balloon and produce an explosive report.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said supporting means comprises arm portions secured at one end to said standard and projecting radially therefrom, and string securing said receptacle to the other end of said arm portion, said string being the elastic member.
 3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said arm portion is the elastic member. 